Campbell supports Carragher in stance

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Campbell, who was dropped from the national squad last summer when Steve McClaren took over from Sven-Goran Eriksson, has still not officially given up on his own England chances despite the last of his 69 caps coming at last summer's World Cup in Germany.

But he said of Carragher: "You can't blame him because I totally understand the situation he is in."

Campbell, who will be 33 in September but had an outstanding season after signing a two-year deal for Pompey from Arsenal last August, added: "He wants to play - but he wants to play in his position.

"There is nothing wrong with that. He doesn't want to become a makeshift [selection], playing on the right or on the left. That is just filling a gap, not what he does week in, week out for Liverpool.

"He wants the recognition for his ability in that position because that is where you are going to see him at his best. For me, Carragher is a fantastic defender. He has shown it over the years and is one of the best in England."

The 29-year-old Liverpool player has been criticised in some quarters for pulling the plug on his England career in order to further his ambitions with Liverpool.

But he has shunned comparisons with the likes of Alan Shearer, Tony Adams and Paul Scholes who all said they were quitting England for the benefit of their clubs.

He has said, however, he would answer an England call again "in an absolute emergency".